Table 1.
List of the wild food plants used in the study area
| Botanical name | RFC | Botanical family | English common name | Italian common and/or folk names | Parts of the plant used | Culinary use | Medicinal use (preparation and administration) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Achillea ptarmica L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | sneezewort | achillea | flowers | salads | |
| Allium schoenoprasum L.* | 0.03 | Liliaceae | chives | erba cipollina | leaves | flavouring | |
| Allium ursinum L.* | 0.03 | Liliaceae | wild garlic | aglio selvatico | bulbs | flavouring | |
| Asparagus acutifolius L. | 0.15 | Asparagaceae | wild asparagus | asparago selvatico/asparagina | shoots | salads, pan-fried | |
| Bellis perennis L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | common daisy | margheritina | young leaves | salads | |
| Borago officinalis L. | 0.08 | Boraginaceae | starflower | borragine | leaves | salads, pancakes, pies | |
| Calamintha nepeta L.* | 0.03 | Lamiaceae | lesser calamint | nepetella | leaves | salads | |
| Calendula officinalis L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | common marigold | calendula | flowers | salads | |
| Capsella bursa pastoris L.* | 0.03 | Brassicaceae | shepherd’s-purse | borsa del pastore | young leaves | salads | |
| Castanea sativa Mill. | 0.10 | Fagaceae | chestnut | castagno | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Cichorium intybus L. | 0.38 | Asteraceae | wild chicory | cicoria selvatica/ radećć, radećć cavdagn | young leaves | salads, pan-fried | |
| Clematis vitalba L. | 0.51 | Ranuncolaceae | traveller’s joy | vitalba/vizeibra | shoots | salads, pan-fried, omelettes, mixed vegetables | |
| Cornus mas L. | 0.05 | Cornaceae | cornelian cherry | corniolo | fruits | rural snack, liqueurs | |
| Corylus avellana L. | 0.05 | Corylaceae | common hazel | nocciolo | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Crataegus azarolus L.* | 0.03 | Rosaceae | azarole | azzeruolo/lazaren | fruits | rural snack | |
| Crataegus monogyna Jacq. | 0.15 | Rosaceae | common hawthorn | biancospino/spen bianc | fruits, shoots, leaves | rural snack | Relaxing, insomnia and heart problems (flowers infusion) |
| Crepis sancta (L.) Babc. | 0.15 | Asteraceae | hawk’s-beard | radicchiella/ciocapiat | young leaves | salads, pan-fried | Diuretic and laxative (food) |
| Crepis vesicaria subsp. taraxacifolia (Thuill.) Thell. | 0.77 | Asteraceae | beaked hawk’s beard | radicchiella/strecapugno | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, omelettes, pasta dough | Depurative, refreshing, blood cleaning, diuretic, laxative (cooking water, food) |
| Diplotaxis tenuifolia L. (DC) | 0.38 | Brassicaceae | wall rocket | rucola selvatica | leaves | salads | |
| Fagus sylvatica L.* | 0.03 | Fagaceae | common beech | al fasoli (fruits) | fruits | rural snack | |
| Ficus carica L. | 0.05 | Moraceae | common fig | fico | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Foeniculum vulgare L. | 0.13 | Apiaceae | wild fennel | finocchio selvatico | stems (I), leaves (II), seeds (III) | liqueurs (I), flavouring (II, III), mixed vegetables (I) | |
| Gentiana lutea L.* | 0.03 | Gentianaceae | great yellow gentian | genziana | roots | liqueurs | |
| Humulus lupulus L.* | 0.03 | Cannaboideae | common hop | luppolo | shoots | pasta sauce | |
| Juglans regia L. | 0.10 | Juglandaceae | walnut | noce | fruits | liqueurs, fresh fruits | |
| Juniperus communis L. | 0.15 | Juniperoideae | common juniper | ginepro | fruits | flavouring, liqueurs | |
| Laurus nobilis L. | 0.10 | Lauraceae | bay laurel | alloro | leaves | flavouring, liqueurs | |
| Lippia citriodora Kuntze | 0.08 | Verbenaceae | lemon verbena | erba luigia | leaves | liqueurs | Swelling trauma (decoction) |
| Lonicera caprifolium L. | 0.08 | Caprifoliaceae | sweet honeysuckle | caprifoglio/ligabôsc | shoots | salads | |
| Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill* | 0.03 | Rosaceae | European crab apple | melo selvatico | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Medicago sativa L.* | 0.03 | Fabaceae | alfalfa | erba medica/spagna | leaves | salads, mixed vegetables | |
| Melissa officinalis L.* | 0.03 | Lamiaceae | lemon balm | melissa, erba limone | leaves | flavouring | |
| Mentha spp. | 0.13 | Lamiaceae | mint | menta | leaves | flavouring, liqueurs | Digestive (decoction) |
| Mespilus germanica L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | medlar | nespolo | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Morus spp. | 0.05 | Moraceae | mulberry | mora | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Papaver rhoeas L. | 0.05 | Papaveraceae | field poppy | papavero/rosetta | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, mixed vegetables | |
| Portulaca oleracea L. | 0.05 | Portulacaceae | purslane | portulaca | leaves | salads, liqueurs | |
| Primula spp. | 0.10 | Primulaceae | primrose | primula | flowers (I), leaves (II) | salads (I), rural snacks (I), pasta stuffing (II) | |
| Prunus avium L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | wild cherry | ciliegio selvatico | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. | 0.10 | Rosaceae | myrobalan plum | mirabolano/rustican | fruits | rural snacks | |
| Prunus cerasus L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | sour cherry | amareno/visciole | fruits (I), leaves (II) | fresh fruits (I), liqueurs (II) | |
| Prunus laurocerasus L. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | lauroceraso | lauroceraso/lauro | fruits | liqueurs | |
| Prunus spinosa L. | 0.28 | Rosaceae | sloe | prugnolo selvatico/prugnól, spini, strozchi | fruits | rural snacks, liqueurs | |
| Punica granatum L.* | 0.03 | Punicaceae | pomegranate | melograno | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Pyrus pyraster Burgsd | 0.05 | Rosaceae | wild pear | pero selvatico | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Robinia pseudoacacia L. | 0.21 | Fabaceae | black locust | acacia/acâg | flowers | pancakes, rural snacks | |
| Rosa spp. | 0.28 | Rosaceae | dog rose | rosa selvatica/pizzincul (fruits) | shoots (I), fruits (II), flowers (III) | rural snack (I, II), jams (II, III) | |
| Rosmarinus officinalis L. | 0.13 | Lamiaceae | rosemary | rosmarino | leaves | flavouring, liqueurs | Digestive (decoction); decongestant (fumigations) |
| Rubus spp. | 0.31 | Rosaceae | wild blackberry | rovo/râza | fruits (I), shoots (II) | fresh fruits (I), liqueurs (I), jams (I), rural snacks (II) | |
| Rumex acetosa L. | 0.15 | Polygonaceae | sorrel | acetosa/êrba brossca | leaves | rural snacks | |
| Ruscus aculeatus L.* | 0.03 | Ruscaceae | butcher’s broom | pungitopo | shoots | pan-fried | |
| Salvia pratensis L. | 0.10 | Lamiaceae | meadow clary | salvia selvatica | leaves | salads, flavouring, omelettes, liqueurs | Digestive (decoction); female genital problems (infusion); toothpaste (fresh leaves) |
| Sambucus nigra L. | 0.21 | Adoxaceae | elderberry | sambuco | fruits (I), flowers (II) | jams (I, II), pancakes (II), liqueurs (II) | Antirheumatic (food: jam) |
| Sanguisorba minor Scop. | 0.05 | Rosaceae | salad burnet | pimpinella/pampinela | leaves | salads | |
| Satureja hortensis L.* | 0.03 | Lamiaceae | summer savory | santoreggia | leaves | flavouring | |
| Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke | 0.26 | Caryophyllaceae | bladder campion | silene rigonfia/strìdel, ciucchett | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, pasta sauce, pasta dough, omelettes | |
| Sonchus asper L. (Hill)/Sonchus arvensis L. | 0.33 | Asteraceae | sow thistles | grespino/frabbs | young leaves | pan-fried, salads | Depurative, diuretic, laxative (food) |
| Sorbus domestica L. | 0.13 | Rosaceae | seviceberry | sorbo | fruits | fresh fruits | |
| Tanacetum balsamita L.* | 0.03 | Asteraceae | costmary | erba di santa Maria | leaves | liqueurs | |
| Taraxacum officinale Weber | 0.77 | Asteraceae | swines snout | tarassaco/piscialet | young leaves | salads, pan-fried, omelettes, mixed vegetables | Depurative, refreshing, draining, diuretic (food, cooking water) |
| Thymus spp. | 0.08 | Lamiaceae | thyme | timo | leaves | flavouring | |
| Trifolium pratense L.* | 0.03 | Fabaceae | red clover | trifoglio dei prati | flowers | rural snacks | |
| Urtica spp. (dioica, urens) | 0.74 | Urticaceae | nettle | ortica | leaves | pasta stuffing and dough, salads, omelettes, mixed vegetables | Refreshing, kidney problems, mineralizing (food, cooking water); hair strength, shine, dandruff (cooking water); anti- arthritic (fresh leaves rubbed on the body); insecticide (leaves macerated in water) |
| Valerianella locusta L. (Laterrade) | 0.41 | Valerianaceae | lamb’s lettuce | valerianella/grassagallina | leaves | salads | |
| Viola spp. | 0.08 | Violaceae | violet | viola | flowers | salads | |
| Vitis vinifera L. subsp. Sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi | 0.13 | Vitaceae | wild grape | vite selvatica | fruits (I), shoots (II), leaves (III) | fresh fruits (I), rural snacks (II), mixed vegetables (III) |
Folk Italian names are written in italics.
Roman numbers indicate the correlation between the traditional culinary use and a specific part of the plant.
*indicates plant species mentioned by a single informant.
RFC: Relative Frequency of Citation Index.
Medicinal use: in brackets the way plants or parts of it are prepared and administered to give the mentioned therapeutic effect.